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U.S. Says It Can Be ‘Willing Partner’ to New Iranian President

Iranian president-elect Hassan Rowhani (C) attends the weekly Friday prayer with Shiite Muslim worshippers during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on July 12, 2013 at the university of the Iranian capital, Tehran. During Ramadan, one of the five main religious obligations under Islam, Muslims are required to abstain from food and from drinking liquids, smoking and having sex from dawn until dusk. AFP PHOTO/ATTA KENARE (Photo credit should read ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

The White House says it hopes Iran's new president will "heed the will" of the voters and make choices that will "lead to a better life" for Iranians. (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — The White House says it hopes Iran’s new president will “heed the will” of the voters and make choices that will “lead to a better life” for Iranians.

Hasan Rouhani took the oath of office on Sunday.

White House press secretary Jay Carney says in a statement that Rouhani’s inauguration gives Iran a chance “to act quickly” to address international concerns about the country’s disputed nuclear program.

The U.S. and its allies contend that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies that.

The White House says Rouhani will find “a willing partner” in the U.S. if his government decides “to engage substantively and seriously” in honoring its international obligations and works toward a peaceful solution to the nuclear issue.